Bulletin-board.



J. W. BAKER.

BULLETiN BOARD. APPLICATION FILED ,Nov. 25, 1912.

a mmed Feb.15,191fi.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. W. BAKER.

I BULLETIN BOARD. APPLICATION FILED NOV, 25, I912.

Patented Feb15,1916.

s S.HEETSSHEET 2.

vwewcoz 1 1. w. BAKER. BULLETINBOARD. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1912.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916'.

V 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- w .for the purpose ot'graphically reproducingUNITEDISTATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WALLACEBAKERfOF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO MLBEL CRANE V iY BAKER, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

BULLETIN-BOARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916,

Application filed November 25, 1912. Serial No. 733,528.

To all whom it may concern:

Bedt known that I, JOHN W. BAKER, citizen of the United StatesresidingatStamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of 1 Connecticunhaveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Bulletin-Boards, ofwhich the following is a specification, referen'cbeing had therein totheaccompanying drawing. a

This invention relates to bulletin boards of a character adapted to beplaced inv front of newspaperoffices, on theater stages, and

other'places for the purpose ofcomrnunicatingjnews to the public, andwhlle usef ul 1n othfi g respects, is more especially designedtheyprogrcss of base-ball, football or other games in a manner wherebyeach play of the aetualggame may be readily followed and.

understood.

In the illustrative embodiment of thef ini vention shown and describedherein, theinvention takes the form of a base-hall'bulletin, though manyother adaptationsiare within the contemplation'of the invention.

In carrying out theprinci les oftheinvention, I provide abulletinhard orother surface having thereon'afield representati'on, andindlcating meansviewable from the front of the board and movable from place to placeabout the field to indlcate the progress of a factor in the game, saidindicating means oficring.substantially no bstruhtion beyond. the frontsurface of the board. In this connection. the invent on,

'whilenot limited to such use, is especially applicable and'useful inconnection. with a bulletin board having associated therewith a ball orother indicatingdevice movable over the front surfaceof the, boardtoindicate movcmcntof the ball over the field, in

which event the indicating means, just do scribed, is lltlllZGtltOindicate the progress like, proiccting: ovcrthc field, thereby indi-l ofthe player in conJunction with the-ping ress of said ball indicator. Inthis manner, the public is kept advised as to the move,

meat of the ball. and as to the relative movemcnt of a player throughthe game.

,-l*nrthcr. the invention includes novel and improved indicating meanspreferably takin: the form of footprints, tracks, or the rating theprogress of a plavcr 'inaction. and thus rcndcrmgthe exhibition morerealist c. while at the same time increasand enthusiasm of the obfrontsurface thereof to indicate the progrose of a ball, at auxiliaryindicating means to illustrate the progress of the players with relationto the ball, said parts being constructed and arranged with a view tosimplicity in construction, efficiency and durability in operation, andcheapness in cost of production.

Still further, the invention embodies a novel construction andarrangement of parts. which, in operation, will be pleaslng andunhurtful to the eye of the observer, ,thereby V overcoming certaindefects in thisrespect at present exlstmg lnccrtaln types of bulletinboards now 1n vogue.v

Other and further improvements and novel deta ls 1n theaconstruction,and an rnngement of parts .will be more fully brought out hereinafter,and for a, compre honsive understanding of the invention, thedescription to follow should be considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and wherein isdisclosed, for the purpose of illustration, a convenient andsatisfactory embodiment o? ,the invention.

lnthe drawings: Figure 1 is a front. elves improv'oinents applied; Fig.2 is a rear view; Figs. S'and' i are. detail views of the indicatorsremoved, the same being enlarged and shown in reverse positions; Fig. 5is an en- 'larged detail view of the conveyor mecha- *vationof the boardbroken away with my nism for the indicator and associated parts:

Fig. (i is a transverse section of the indicator and Fig. Tis a rearview of the indicator.

\Vith ,more particular reference to the drawings, 1 is a board of anysuitable construction or material. the same having upon the frontsurface thereof, a field representation, such as a base-ball diamond,and bear-v ing such indicating data with reference to the position ofthe players, etc-., as may be desired. The diamond proper is indicatedby the numeralQ, and the bases by the numeral 3, the board preferablybeing cut out or having openings at the base portions whereby toindicate therethrough whether or not the player is safe at theparticular base. Arranged to play over the field is amoving the ball'isillustrated in the patent to Parker, above referred to, and'need not bespecifically shown or described herein.

It is desirable to show by mechanical means the progress of the playerswith re lation to the movement of the ball; for instance say a ball ishit by thebatter into onepfthe positions on thefield, interest of theobserver is increased providing the movement of the batter can beclosely followed with relation to the ball. I end, the board is of suchconstruction that while the ball indicator is moved in the fieldingthereof,jthe player is shown in a novel and highly realistic manner inhis 'i noveme'nt from the home plate to the first base, and subsequentlyto the other bases,- provided he reaches the first base before the vsurface of the board, but they connect with ball. In this way also theobserver need' only follow the relat ve movement of the ball andtheplayer to ascertain whether or not the player is safe? or ,fout, and

auxiliary data giving this information to" the public may, lie-dispensedwith. n

The means for illustrating the progress of the player between the basesis prefer ably of a character to render as realistic as possible theactual appearance'of a player in motion. In the illustrative embodimentof this feature of the invention, I accom plish the desired resultthrough the medium of'a series or line of foot-print representationssubstantially" n m l y con al d or invisible, and means for successivelybring-, ing visibly to'view, successive prints of the seriesI 'Toillustrate, say aplayer has hit the ball, progr( *.ssfrom'the home plateto first base will be findicated by bringing into view, the outline orprint of a foot adjacent the home plate and extending in the generaldirection of the path from the homeplate to thelirst' base, andthercupon, A

succeeding prints will be brought to light mitt l e ]',)layer 'is' seento have arrived at thebzisel i\ny'1n(- a ns or mechanism forattainingthislhighly interesting and important. factor ofthe mi'rnef iswithin the con templation and o of the nvention.

In the prescntjfspeciiieenibb irnent, the

front surface of the board is provided along the several paths 6, prQecting between the visible a short distance from the board. A 3

channel-8 is interposed-between the front and rear surfaces of theboard, and such channel may be suitably formed by constructing the boardwith aback portion 9 I and a cover or plate forming thefront'surface 10,the latter-being suitably spaced from the rear surface as by spacingmembers of any desired construction. 7 I

Arranged in the rear surface of the-board are a series' of guide'grooves 11 projecting between the various points where it is desired toindicate the progress. of the player.

Indie form illustrated, these grooves follow the general outline ofth'ediamond, that is to say, they follow the paths between the bases, thoughit is to be noted thatthey may be arranged in other positions about thefield to indicate the pro ress of a player or other factor over the fied. The grooves 11 preferably do not extendthrough-the front the channel8. interposed between Arranged to move in thechannel 8 is a I suitableindicator A to be more specifically referred to hereinafter, butpreferably hav- .ling Fa vportion thereof toward the front of the boardof a color. contrasting with the general color of the path between thebases, whereby when the indicator is positioned in the channelbehind anyparticular footprint '7, said print will be brought to light or to viewat the front of the board, the indicator forming, in this connection, anilluminant fer-red means for impa'rtfin'g'"movement to "the indicator inthe channel comprises an "for the foot print representations. A pre-'like, the carrier 12 being mounted upon suitable pulleys 13 at the rearof the board and following the general outline of the dia mond, as moreclearly illustrated in-Fig. 2. An operating wheel or pulley 14 uponwhich" the carrier l2 moves and from which'the carrier receives its'motion, is positioned at any convenient point for the operator,preferably to the side'of the'home plate, and having connected thereto asuitable operating handle 15 of any desired contsruction. Itwill beobserved that'asthe handle is ro- Iguide 18 on a .dia'toia- 1 i 3 j aA"; spring 19' is interposedqbetween the tated, endwise morement isgiven to the carrier member 12, and a movement therewith is imparted to;the indicator'A along the path between the bases, tothe end thatsucceeding prints are brought-to light 1nthe manner above described. Inthis connection, itis desirablethat theindieator -0r' indicators'be-readily releasablefrom the conveyer', since, say' aplayerisshownto'have gone from homefplate to first base, and to havebeen retired at first base,thegindicator may be --removedffrom" thecarrier and brought back into position to {show the progress of .thenext succeedingp'layer from the home plate to first base. The means forconably takes the form 1 of coiiperating jaws 16 and 16 relativelymovableathemovable one 16 having a suitable operating pintle or knob"-piece 1 7; loosely passing through a. p g ojection OI' stem ofv theinhollow: postor stem 23. Superimposediipon said diski22is an auxiliarydisk 24 having projecting froin the rearsurfa'oe thereof a central stemor post 25 loosely passin able operating handle for moving themovthrough a central openingin the under dis 22, and loosely sleeved inthe first mentioned stenror post 23. In this way, .the disks arerelatively movable, that is to say, the upper one may rotate relative tothe lower one in the bearing formed by the post 23. A suitable disk 24is shown at 26, the same con-' necting with the post 25 and passingthrough a laterally extending guide way 27 in the necting theindicatortothe carrier prefersleeve post 23. The upper disk 24 preferably takestheform of wings 24econnecting with a centralcircular part 24", whichlatter is colored in contrast to the-'colorof the paths between thebases, and which said central 'part isv of a diameter to project overany particular print opening in :the pathway.

Conveniently, for illustration, the path'way 'maybe so colored as tohave a brown or r guide 18 and the ,moyablejaw 16, whereby to normallyforce sa id jaws: together. or into a positi'omtograsp the conveyer' 12.It,is

notedin this connection that by grasping theknob 17and moving theijawyl6 against action of the spring, the indicator maybe sandyappearance to imitate the appearance of the path of, the playing field,and the centra'lipart in contrast thereto may be colored:

in white as illustrated in the drawing. The

wviflgs 24 projecting from. the circular part "24" of theupperdisk 24are preferably col= applied to or released from the carrier at any partthereof? In order-thatthe indicator-"may be inserted and removed atthedesired point, say atany particiiljar base at' which the player has beenretired and this without making it necessary for operatorto go in frontof the board orsotli rwise interrupt or ,pbscure the] view at front, ofthe board, T preferably providegii adjacent,

eru-hbase, at the rear of 'the'boad, an enlarged opening 20 preferablyof diameter ored in contrast to the central. portions 24", say inblack,as illustrated in the drawings;

The uppersurface of the under disk 22 will also have portionsincontrasting colors, say white 22 and black 22? so that in the rotarymovement ofthe plate in one direction, the

limit of which movement. is covered by the length of the guide-way 27,the colored portion 22 of theunder plate will be in contrast with thecolored portion 24 of the considerably "greater thanthe: d meter of athe indicator Apthe saido n g jecting entirely through the bar'dbutcommunicating with the" channel 8 and the grooves 11' as by a groove 21extending in the same general direction as one' ofthe.

grooves '11 p In this way, the operator may grasp the indicator by itspro ection or stem,

and; insertthe same through the' opening 20 a a t the rear of the boa rdand' move the same into the channel; thei groove 21 acting. as a guidein this connect'i on, and when in proper position, the indicatoris'connectedjto the carrying member .12 "in the; anner previouslydescribed; Likewise, as the ndicatorg reaches any. particularbase,r'theI same-may not pro upper plate, thereby .indicating that theplayer is fsafe, while in the reverse position of said parts,the coloredprn'tion22 of the lower'plate will be of the saine color as the coloredportion 24*? ofthe upper plate, thus giving to the indicator a generaldarkened appearance except at the, central part 24",.

thereby indicating that the player is fluut.

lnprder that a considerable pm'tion'of'the 1nd1cator may show throughthe baseportions, the openings3are enlarged with rebases.

spect to the width of the path between the Ifdesired ofcourse theindicator maybe operated by hand along the path ways and also thecor'iperating disks of the indicators,maybe relatively moved by hand atthe base positionsto' indicate the status he removed; inasim-ilarlrnanner as isfobnous:

' A, before referred to, and to this end, the

indicator isconveniently' constructed as follows: 22 is a diskshaped-member having projecting from the rear surface thereof a In orderto P'indicate whether :or a V player ,is"safe?'-a'tf any particularbase, I

preferably take. advantage of the indicator is adapted to project in thepath of the opcrating handle 26, whereby as the indicator is moved alongthe groove or guide-way 11,

the handle 26 thereof which projects through the'groove will be broughtinto contact with' theabutment 28, thereby turning thepost '25 in thesleeve 23' and moving therewith the connected disk 24.; Since, in themajority :of cases, the player is retired, the indicating dislrwillnormally-be in position to indicate o.ut,- when it arrives at aparticular base, and, therefore, it is desirable to pro- To this end,the abutment 28 is slidably mounted in a suitable housing or guide way29 fixed to the rear surface of the board, and

' projecting through the end .thereof at 30 5 same, the ball will moveout'into-one ofv thefield positions, and the indicator A'will "tion toactuate the indicator.

' to release the lug move outwardly. I the indicator is merely byway ofillustra tion, since it is obvious that many different arrangements; andconstructions may be. de-j vvised; for accomplishing this same resultsand such-modifications are within the. con-* the player down to thefirst base.

for connection with a suitable operating member 31, conveniently takingthe form of acord orthe like, thelatter passing through a suitable,pulley 32 and; communicating at its -op o'siteend with a suitable latch33, guide in a member.34 on the rear surface of theboard and having alug35 adapted to engage over-the wall ofthe guide 34 so as to hold thelatchin a given position,-say tonormally hold the lug 28 in a real-mostposition or out of a position where it-will be contacted withby theoperating handle 26 of theindieating member. A spring 36 isconvenientlyinterposed "in the" housing 29 between-the rear wall thereof and acollar. 37 on the abutment 28, whereby to, as the released, force theabutment out into aposi-I.

in the guide member 3-1 is sufiiciently .large to permit ofthe'lu'g 35to pass therethrough,

when the latch is moved laterally, whereby and permit the bolt to .Th'ismeans for. actuating templation of my, invention.

,The general tion will now nga ans, but .to illustrate, a the or homeplate, and the 1')layer has hitthe simultaneously move from thehomeplate in the channel 8, and the contrasting color thereof will showthrough the foot print openings 7 thereby showing the progress of ballarrives at the first base before the player, the indicating disks willbe in position to indicate outJ If',; on the other The openingoperationv of. the, construebe reviewed. The means for indicating theprogresmofthe players may v be either used with or without the ballinllying' witl n "of the board,

If the hand,= the player arrives at first base pre the indicationsofthe-disk to thereby show that the player is safe.

In the drawings-{I have shown several of the indicators A as positionedon a single .eonveyer 12, so as to show the generaleffeet andappearanceof the indicatorat the foot printopenings and at the'base o'penings,iand I have also only shown the oper jatin'g mechanism for but oneconveyer. In

practioe,'howeve'r, it, is obvious that more than one conveyer. willprobably be used, so

that there;may be one-indicator and con- ,veyer for each runner, to theend that should more than one base be occupied, each indicator may beindependently moved by its particular conveyor to thereby show the-"-line. This involves merely a duplication'of parts, as is obvious. Again,while the inmovement of each player along the basedicating means(preferably takes the form of footprints an is illustrated as showingthe movement of players between bases, yet

it is obvious that the indicating mechanism may take other forms, andisequally applicable in other connections, in theillustration of variousfactors of the game being produced.

\Vhat I claim is 2- 1; In a ball bulletin board,the combina' tionof awall having-on the front surface thereof a ball field representation, aseriesof foot print representations arranged proresentations beingnormally invisible at the tween the respective foot print representa--gressiv'ely and in close succession, said rep-" tions for bringingvisibly to view at-"a distance in front'of theboard succeeding printrepresnta tions' of the series.

2. Ina ball bulletin board, the combinalwtion of a wallhaving on thefront surface thereof Iii. ball" field representation, a series v offoot print representations arranged progress vely and 'in' 'closesuccession, s'aidrep restinibations being normally invisible atythe frrI '\'is by to view at thefrontof the board.suc ball "has been moved .upto the batters box tf'of ,the'"boa rd',and means for bringing (o(d gfprint representations of the series P a b' a fiel'd, sa d, rpresentations, and. said 'means 3. In a 'ba ll' bull etin' board, thecombin'ation of a. surface having thereon a field rep} I resentation,and 'a member tothe rear of line of the frontfs'urfa'ce said surfaceandfof contrasting color with I v respect to that ofii the field. saidmember being movable indicate the continuous surfacehavingtl "c tedthereon afield yep resentat on, axhiovable memberat the rear tion and sris-sot closely associated open-t mgs', having tliewg eneral' outline ofa 1 foot,

and means parents to the" rear 'ofjsaid surface and successively movableto'fsaid opening to shew through said openingsgand indicate the progressof a, player; I

In a game bulletin, the combination of or i said [surf-ac mieinber beingof con trastlng color said field representation 'to progressivelyillustratethe progress of a factor in the game.

progress of a player illuminating means hem'oveinent of the .lastmentionedfmeai is fsafeif Q a v t q 7. In a basexballbulletin,,thefeombination of a board havmg ron the front, surface abase-hall diamond, and means forshowing the progress of, a playerbetween bases ineluding an element flinovable between the' bases, andmeans xoonncted with vthe last i mentioned element to in out 7, at the,bases dicatie safe and 8; In a baseball: bulletin, thecombination of aboard havijng' ononelsurface, bandit 'mond withbase portions mechanicalmeans movable between the bases for indicating the movement of a playerbetween the base portions, saidpmeans being arranged the rear of thefront surface of the boardyand means controlled bythe lastmentionedmeans to indicate whether or not aplayer is 7e i V safe.

a a. ball air-ranges combination ofa 3 ball field ha't'irig portionsthereof out out in i the form of foot prints, and indicator arranged totherear; of thefield and'movable from one out out part toanother, toindicate successive steps of a player in action.

10. in a ball bulletin, the combination-of a surface having a ball fieldrepresentation,

a movable indicator to the rearof the field, and successively visibleand invisible through the field to indicate the progress of a factor inthefgame.

11. In a ball bulletin, the combination of a surface having a. fieldrepresentation, and

a series of cut out portions separated from one another and extendingbetween certain points on the field, and an lndicator an I Y r tiijesaid surface, and successively v ble andinyisible at the front a of saidsurface at a; number of points about 6. Ina baseball bulletin,the-combination i of a board having an the, front'surface, a baseballdiamond, means for showingthe leratirely associated ot the runnerindicated by the foot prints a ranged to the rear of the field andsuccessively moved under said out out portions to s indicate theprogress of a factorbetween points on the fiel, i v t 12. In abase-ballbulletin board, the comibinatirn of amemberhaving on its front"surface'a fieldrepresei itatlon, a plurality of series of footprintouthnes normally sub-.

stantially invisible at ,tlie'front of the board aplurali'ty of boardshaving a space thercbetween, therear board having a grooveextendlngbetweeir different points on "the board, and connecting withthe space hetweenthe boards, an indicator positioned in said space andvisible through the front board, said indicator having;an operating partpropotlng through the groove of, the

rear board.

' jlipIn a ball game bulletin, the combination of a board having afieldrepresentation on the front surface thereof, and also having' guidegrooves in therear surface there indicate whether or v of, extending todifferent points correspond-1 ing topoints of the field on the frontsurface, and connecting with an enlarged'channel or guide way betweenthe front and rear surfacesof the board, an indicator positioned inthechannel \vl'ierebyit olfersno obstructionbeyond the front surfaceof theboard, said indicator being viewableat the front of the board and ofcontrasting color with regard to the front surface of the board, anendless couveyeu adapted to -be connected with the indicator, and theindicator having a part guided in said grooves. 15. In a ball gamebulletin, the combination of a board having a field representation onthe front thereof, the rear surface thereof having guide grooves, andthe board having a channel between the. front and rear surfaces thereofconnecting with said grooves, then-ear surface of the board. having anenlarged recess connecting, with both the said channel and grooves, anindicator or indicators adapted to be inserted and removed I; throughthe enlarged recess and into the channel, and to be viewed from thefront of the boarchand means for moving the indicator in said channelalong the grooves' 16, In a base ball bulletin, the combination of afield representation, having openings therethrough, an indicatorpositioned to the rear of the front surface of the field movable betweenthe openings and adapted to show at. said openings, said indicatorcomprising relatively movable indicating parts to lndicate out or safeat the bases,

and means for operating said parts.

17. In a ball bulletin, the combination of a field representation havingopenings there 1 v through, an indicator movable at the rear of tliefield representation between the openings and adapted to show throughsaid openings,

said indicator comprising relatively movable parts, and means foroperating said parts,- so

v openings between the base openings, and a single indicator positionedto the rear of the front surface of the board for indicating safe or outat the base openings an for showing the progress of a player between thebases by showing through said intermediate openings.

19. In a ball ame bulletin. the combination of a board having on thefront surface thereof a field representation, and having a plurality/ofseries of openings one to the side of the other, and movable indicatingmeans to the rear of'said openings adapted to alternately displaythrough succeedingaopenings in the lurality of series. I

20. n a ball game bulletin, the combination" of a board having on thefront surface thereof a field representation, and having a plurality ofseries of openings one to the side of the other having the outline offoot prints, one series to represent the right foot prints and theotherto represent left foot prints, the prints of one series being outof alinement with those of another series, an

indicator movable atthe rear of said openings adapted to alternatelymove from a .position behind an opening in one s'eries'to a ositionbehind the next succeeding opening in the other series, the indicatorhem of piorl grasting'color with regard to that o the e .1 a a 21. In aball game bulletin, the combination of a boardhaving on the frontsurface thereof a field representation, and having a plurality of seriesof openings one to the side of the other- "having the outline of footprints, one series to represent the right foot prints and the'other torepresent left foot prints, the prints of one series being out ofalineinent with those of another series, an

indicator movable at the rear of said openings adapted to "alternatelymove from a .position' behind-an opening in one series to a positionbehind the next succeed- Ting-opening in the other series, the front atthe base positions, and. said indivator having a plurality of indicatingmeans to display at said base openings:

22. A base-ball score board comprising a board provided withrepresentations of a player, said representations being arranged insuccession to represent; said player as moving from one point toanother,and an illuminant adapted to be moved in rear of said representationsfor the purpose set forth.,

23. -A base ball score boardcomprising a board provided withrepresentations of a player, said representations being arranged insuccession to represent said player as mo"- ing from one point toanother, an illuminant for illuminating 'the representations, and meansarranged in rear of the board for guiding the illuminant as itis movedin rear of, saidrepresentations.

-24. -A base ball score board comprising a board provided on its outerface. with the representation of a base-ball field' and having slotsextending from certain points on the field to other points thereon,material adapted to permit light to pass therethrough arranged oversa-idslots, "and an illuminant adapted to be moved alongthe slots as and forthepurpose set forth- 25. A baseball scoreboard comprising a boardprovided with representationsof a layer, said representationsbeingarranged in succession to represent the player as moving from onepoint'ontheboard to another,

a second board arranged in rear of the first v in presence of two:witnesses.

JOHN WALLACE BAKER.

- Witnessesi- MA'eni. E. IIAMILTON, WM. F. WnTERBURY.

